The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-20
OUR GROVES AND FARMS.

Hard Work and it's Rich Reward.
Twenty miles out of Palatka West Put
nam begins. 1t is section altogether
unlike those portions of our county south
and east of US, so well known to our
visitors. Before the advent of the Flori-
da Southern hallway, the inhabitants of
West Putnam had no market nearer than
twenty-five miles, and many came forty
miles to get news of the outside world.
Even now the visitor is astonished at
finding neighborbOOd so quiet and con-
tented with its is ISOLATION in the midst of
a busting, everchanging crowd from all
parts of the world.
Here live the "oId-timers" but very
slight acquaintance will show that they
are neither bourbons nor ignorant. They
live almost entirely at home, it is true,
and they have all the marks peculiar to
their isolated situation, but they have the
virtues impressed on the character by
their condi tions as well. Ten miles ride
to the eastward from the railway brings
us to the neighborhOOd of Putnam Hall.
The sandhills are unusually lofty and
steep, covered with the finest long leaf
pines and swept by airs which fill the
lungs with health and quicken the blood
as well as the appetite. Lovely lakelets
are set deep in the valleys and around
the rims of these, great live-oaks break
the mOnotony of the pine forest. The
water is clear and deep and from the
overhanging shores the finest trout may
be killed, or an occasional alligator be
seen IN the liquid depths. The lonely
kingfisher sits on a dead branch and
gazes down at himself outlined against
the soft blue arch of an inverted sky.
Near the post flee of Putnam Hall is
the farm and grove of John P. Wall
The house is the comfortable home of
six or eight rooms usually seen in the
South. 1t is set in the midst of a fine
grove, and from the wide piazza his
fields of corn, cotton, potatoes and cane
stretch away in the distance. On the
right is a little lake blue as any ever
sung by poet, and on the left stretches
away the tangled loneliness of growth
stimulated to luxuriance by the sprea0-
ing waters of lost creek" He pro-
tested against being written up" but
finally consented to tell us show he went
to mill and got back, that his experience
might serve as guide to others.
In 1872 Mr.. Wall bought one hundred
and fifteen acres-fifty of which was an
old field already worn out. and the re-
| 4 TT.
pine land and part sandy hammock.
Then "a horse was bought ION time" and
the work began. When the land had
been paid for not a dOildr lrds left. Such
supplies as were absolutely necessary
were bought, the crop was planted and
a long struggle made. The land was
SO poor that crops could be grown
IN the same field only on alternate
years, and not a pound of CONNER
cial fertilizer has ever been bought
for farm or grove or garden. Muck from
the lake-beds in dry seasons, leaves from
the woods and everything available
about the house and grounds were thrown
| into compost heaps and the crops hare
been doubled, Mr.. Wall thinks the re-
suit Is mainly due to his plan of planting
each field on alternate years only.
The provisions for the family have al
ways been first provided-then all the
| cotton he could work was planted. At
first the debt for the horse and provisions
| compelled hum to plant more cotton
than he does now, because he was so far
4 l1f hot ha nnnl1
else. A grove was begun Immediately,
| and the trees first set out are now among
the largest in the county. As soon as he
had oranges to sell he ceased to grow
cotton land quit the cross-r roads grocer,
too" Says MIR. Wall, II planted my
orange grove on as poor pine land as l
had on my place and never bought a
pound of fertilizer for it. Now l will
compare my trees with any in Putnam
county, and others can do as well with
proper care and industry
1t has been said that Florida is no
place for poor man. This is only
true because if he is possessed of suf-
ticient pluck and industry he will soon
cease to be poor. The experience of
John p. Wall refutes a volume Of such
assertions. Sooner than in any other
State the poor man in Florida may reach
a comfortable independence; often he is
in a few years richer far in the love
and confidence of his fellow citizens.
~
White Underwear Going Out.
| The following notes ON dress are furnished
| me by a lady: While many a Frenchwoman